A5 E5 Once upon a time there was a girl A5 E5 In her early years she had to learn F5 E5 How to grow up living in a war that she called home F5 E5 Never knew just where to turn for shelter from the storm A5 E5 Hurt me to see the pain across my mother's face F5 E5 Every time my father's fist would put her in her place F5 E5 Hearing all the yelling, I would cry up in my room A5 E5 Hoping it would be over soon F5 C5 Bruises fade father, but the pain remains the same F5 C5 And I still remember how you kept me so afraid F5 C5 Strength is my mother for all the love she gave F5 A5 And every morning that I wake I look back at yesterday and I'm okay A5 E5 I often wonder why I've carried all this guilt A5 E5 When it's you that helped me put up all these walls I've built F5 E5 Shadows stir at night through a crack in the door F5 E5 The echo of a broken child screaming "please, no more" F5 E5 Daddy don't you understand the damage you have done? F5 E5 For you it's just a memory, but for me it still lives on F5 C5 Bruises fade father, but the pain remains the same F5 C5 And I still remember how you kept me so afraid F5 C5 Strength is my mother for all the love she gave F5 A5 And every morning that I wake I look back at yesterday and I'm okay F5 E5 It's not so easy to forget F5 E5 All the marks you left along her neck F5 E5 When I was thrown against cold stairs F5 E5 And everyday afraid to come home, F5 E5 In fear of what I might see there F5 C5 Bruises fade father, but the pain remains the same F5 C5 And I still remember how you kept me so afraid F5 C5 Strength is my mother for all the love she gave F5 A5 And every morning that I wake I look back at yesterday and I'm okay